HOT Lane Users
Motorists use High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes when they need a faster and more reliable travel time and can't afford to be stuck in traffic - like when they must pick up a child from daycare or need to be at an important business meeting on time. Studies conclude that drivers of all income levels take advantage of HOT lanes when they need to get somewhere on time:
California's Department of Transportation found that only about 25 percent of motorists on the SR-91 Express Lanes in Orange County are in the top income bracket, while the majority of users are low- and middle-income motorists.
A study by transportation consultant Wilbur Smith Associates revealed that 78 percent of low-income motorists in San Diego support the HOT lanes concept.
Researchers at San Diego State University found that, although the proportions of commuters who choose the I-15 Express Lanes in San Diego increase with income, commuters of all income levels use the lanes.
A study by transportation consultant Wilbur Smith Associates revealed that 78 percent of low-income motorists in San Diego support the HOT lanes concept.
Researchers at San Diego State University found that, although the proportions of commuters who choose the I-15 Express Lanes in San Diego increase with income, commuters of all income levels use the lanes.
Existing HOT Lanes
The HOT lanes concept was first introduced by the Reason Foundation in 1993. Since then, four states, including Minnesota, California, Texas and Colorado, have implemented HOT lanes to help ease congestion. HOT lanes in the U.S. include:
I-394 in Minneapolis, Minn.
I-25 in Denver, Colo.
SR-91 in Orange County, Calif.
I-15 in San Diego, Calif.
I-10 in Houston, Texas
I-25 in Denver, Colo.
SR-91 in Orange County, Calif.
I-15 in San Diego, Calif.
I-10 in Houston, Texas
The U.S. Congress and the Federal Highway Administration endorsed the concept of HOT lanes when it introduced the Value Pricing Pilot Program in 1998 under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. In 2006, they reinforced their support in Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), which has provisions specific to HOT lanes. SAFETEA-LU authorizes the Federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and transit for the five-year period 2005-2009
Officials in states spanning from Georgia to Oregon are currently exploring HOT lanes or similar concepts to reduce congestion.